Benjamin Hunt Diary – 1799 (and intro)
DIARY OF BENJAMIN HUNT
1799-1812
Reprinted from the Daily Local News,
For the Chester County Historical Society, 1898.[fn]Excerpted from Bulletins of the Chester County Historical Society, reformatted by Mary Briggeman[/fn]
The writer of this diary was the son and youngest child of William ana Sarah (Fred) Hunt, of Westtown township, Chester county, Pa., where he was born 12th-mo. 1st, 1766. The older children were Ann. who married William Sharpless, of West Chester, the grandfather of Philip P. Sharpless; Mary, who married William Seal, of Birmingham, grandfather of Alban Seal; Joshua Hunt, grandfather of the late Joseph Hunt, of West Chester; Rebecca, wife of Titus Taylor and grandmother of Caleb Taylor, of West Chester, and Eli Hunt, of Westtown.
Benj. Hunt married Eleanor (Nelly), daughter of James Huey, of Westtown. She had a sister Mary, who married Thomas Francis and went to Virginia: a sister Elizabeth, who married John McGoodin, and brothers William sand John Huey. who are frequently mentioned in this diary. Among his first cousins were Deborah, wife of Captain James Jefferis, some time of Wilmington, owner of the ship Neptune, who built the mansion at Allerton, in East Bradford, and died there; Hannah, wife of Robert Yearsley, of Westtown: Charity, wife of Joseph Garrett, of East Goshen; Dr. Joseph Moore, of West Chester: also the Mercers and Osbornes, of Westtown.
Of Benjamin’s occupation prior to the commencement of the diary we know little. At the beginning of the year 1799 we find him occupying a sawed log house in Marshallton and a new frame store house on another lot, near the Center Tavern, then kept by Abraham Marshall. The property was rented, and his live stock consisted of a horse and a cow. In 1801 he removed to Wagontown, in West Cain township, and keot store there until 1803, when he came to West Chester and engaged in the same business. In 1805 he sold out to Job B. Remington, and the next year he is described as a board yard keeper. In 1809 he removed to Hamilton Village and for a year kept tavern there. His death occurred 10th-mo. 1st, 1812. His three sons were Nathan, who followed the seas for several years; James, who married Anna Markley, and was the father of Daniel Markley Hunt, of Philadelphia, owner of the diary, and through whose Kindness we are able to place it before the public, and William Hunt.
The diary is neatly written and the spelling is good for the time. It is here given in full. To any one as familiar as the writer with the names of those mentioned it is full of interest.
When Benjamin Hunt was at Wagontown John Hughes kept the “Wagon” Tavern and Owen Affiick, the “Hop Vine and Barley Sheaf,” succeeding Thomas Evans, whose fleeting (moving) to the 40th mile stone on the turnpike is mentioned. When he came to West Chester the Turk’s Head was kept by Benjamin Miller: the Gen. Wayne (White Hall), by Ephraim Buffington: the Bear by James Jackson; the Gen. Washington by Cromwell Pearce, and the Green Tree by Jacob Righter.
Some of these hotels have disappeared so long that many persons are ignorant of their location. The Washington stood where the Meconkey Mansion, now the Assembly Building, stands; the Black Bear where the Farmers Bank is, and the Gen. Wayne where Finegan’s store and some others are.
The diary will be followed by a brief genealogy of the Hunt family in the early generations if sufficient records can be obtained.
GILBERT COPE.
DIARY.
Fourth Day, April 3rd 1799. Rachel Johnson came from Richard Strode’s to my house in West Bradford, Stayed till seventh Day: then went to Samuel Cummin’s about two Miles, to see them and stayed all night: the next morning, which was first Day April 7th, after breakfast, she was taken very suddenly and very violently with something like the Cholic or dry gripes, and continued bad till third day towards noon. April 9th, when she died, Aged 18 Years and 6 Mo. And was next Day Intered in friends Burial ground at Bradford.
16th February 1799. Jefferis left the Capes of Delaware for India.
Phillip Derrick Married to Sarah Sharpless about the Middle of April 1799.
May 23rd 1799. Sally Peirce brought me a Humming bird she caught, and I weighed it in my gold scales and it weighed nearly ldwt, 21 Grains.
May 30th 1799. this day Joseph Smith informed me upon his solemn affirmation that Joseph Bernard informed him a few days ago that his father came to see him and he says, father, I believe 1 shall loose all my corn with the cut worms: his father went into the corn field and took out of one hill of corn 40 cut worms: the next day he took out of the same hill 60 more himself; then went to an other hill and took 60 or 65 out, -Smith does not remember which.
July 5th 1799. Debtor Joseph Moore departed this life at his house at West Chester after a long illness.
24th July, this day a man and boy called at my house from Virginia, enquiring for John Hare Jur.
25th: Abner Woodward married to widow Elizabeth Harland last evening.
August 6th 1799. Sarah Moore, widow, Died early this morning at her house in West Chester.
7th. This Day went to the funeral.
Sept. 9th. This Day bought a Watch of Thomas Crow in Wilmington for Dols. 22.
Sept 29th. this evening Rachel Baker, wife of Richard Baker, Died aged upwards of 5O Years.
Oct. 1st. went to the funeral at Bradford.
Sept. 30th. Emy Coope Died.
Oct 2nd. Emy Coope was buried at Bradford. Polly Francis came here.
3rd. Her & Nelly Went to Jonathan Strode’s.
4th This Morning was at the wedding of Gravener Marsh and one of Moses Coat’s Daughters at Abr. Marshall’s in presence of Moses Marshall Esquire.
3rd. Charity Garrett Died.
5th. this afternoon John Huey came here.
6th. this morning Nelly & me went with Polly & John to Father’s &. from there to Birmingham Meeting with Billy & Betsey, in the evening I returned home by myself. John Clayton Died this evening.
8th. this morning Went to Clayton’s funeral. In the afternoon went to the Election at West Chester in company with Abr’m Marshall and Hump’y Marshall, in Richard Jones’ light waggon: John Temple Driver.
11th this Day went in company with Jos. England to see my Uncle John Fred whome I had not seen these twelve or fourteen years. I found him a poor miserable object, his limbs drawn out of place by Rheumatic pains & confin’d for three years to the house, two of which he had scarcely been out of his bed; his health and appetite during the time pretty good but at times in great pain. In the afternoon we returned home by Joseph Leonards: bought of him a stack of hay for forty Dollars, this afternoon Andrew Ferriil Died.
13th. this morning went to Ferriil’s funeral.
18th this Day in Wilmington: came home this night through a siorm of wind & rain.
17th Mary Francis came here with her Father & Billy on her way home to Virginia. I went with them as far as Thomas Worth.
Thomas Worth Jur. Married to Lydia Williamson.
24th. this Dav Isaac Mason was found (who had been missing since the evening before) with his Handkerchief tied one end round his neck, the other to a small sapling bent down, he was quite Dead having I suppose been in that position several hours.
25th. Went to Whalens Forge in the afternoon went to Farrells vendue.
Nov. 1st. Went to the sale of Abrm Darlington plantation which was struck off to Wm. Brinton for £3013.
2nd. This Day was at my Uncle James Smith’s, helping to raise a sawmill.
4th. Went to Philadelphia.
5th. In Philad.
6th. this Night came home.
11th. Hannah Martin Died.
14th. Hannah Martin Buried.
19, 20, 21, 22nd. Attended West Chester Court. James Cain was Indicted for the Murder of James Cain, and by the Jury was found Guilty of Murder in the second degree, and was adjudged to the Jail and Penitentiary house in Philad, to be confined Nine Years in the Cell and Nine to hard labour, tho in fact he aught to have been hung.
4th Decm. This morning sent a letter to Thomas Francis in Virginia by Abner Titus.
Some time between the 4th & twelth of this Mo. Lydia Sharpless Marryed to Dr. Roberts.
12th. This evening Jacob Marshall was Married to Elizabeth Worth.
18th. This day I went to Isaac Woodward’s at the Sign of the Indian Ring.
21st This night Emmor Moore & his Daughter Lydia lodged here.
22nd. This morning I started to go to Philad. Got into town in the evening.
23d. This Day in town buying goods.
24th. Went up Market Street & met Wm. Smith & Abr’m Clark with their waggon coming for my goods, about noon I left town, got home about 8 o’clock at night.
27th. paid Marshall Battin 59 Cents poor tax.
30th This Day Caleb Marshall informed me that he saw Robt. Ingram at plow in his field.